(e) Except as otherwise provided in subdivisions (b) [and], (c) and (d) of this section, each board of education or board of cooperative educational services shall on and after the effective date of this Subpart make probationary appointments and appointments on tenure in accordance with the provisions of this Subpart.

2. A new subdivision (d) shall be added to section 30-1.2 of the Rules of the Board of Regents to read as follows:

(1) A professional educator employed by a school district or board of cooperative educational services on September 1, 2022 who was previously appointed by the board to tenure or a probationary period in a tenure area identified in this Subpart shall either:

(i) continue to receive credit toward tenure and/or accrue tenure and seniority rights in his or her previous tenure area from the initial date of his or her assignment and continue to receive tenure and/or seniority rights in his or her previous tenure area while assigned to devote a substantial portion of his or her time to the provision of instruction in computer science; or

(ii) if the professional educator provides knowing consent to the school district or board of cooperative educational services to change his or her tenure area pursuant to section 30-1.9 of this Subpart by September 1, 2022, he or she may receive credit toward tenure and/or accrue tenure and seniority rights in the special subject tenure area of computer science, established in section 30-1.8 of this Subpart, from the date of his or her initial assignment to a position where he or she devoted a substantial portion of his or her time to the provision of instruction in computer science and he or she shall continue to receive tenure and seniority rights in that tenure area while assigned to a position where he or she devotes a substantial portion of his or her time to the provision of computer science instruction appropriate for such tenure area.

(2) Any school district or board of cooperative educational services that appoints or assigns a professional educator on or after September 1, 2022 to devote a substantial portion of his or her time to the provision of computer science instruction shall make probationary appointments and appointments on tenure in accordance with section 30-1.8(e) of this Subpart.

(3) Any board of cooperative educational services that appoints a professional educator on or after September 1, 2022 to devote a substantial portion of his or her time to computer science instruction as a result of a board of cooperative educational services taking over a program formerly operated by a school district or a county vocational education and extension board pursuant to section 3014-a of the Education Law, shall credit the professional educator with tenure and seniority rights in the special subject tenure area for computer science instruction established in section 30-1.8(e) of this Subpart from the initial date of his or her assignment to the performance of computer science instruction in the school district or county vocational education and extension board and shall continue to credit the professional educator with tenure and/or seniority rights in such tenure area while he or she is assigned to devote a substantial portion of his or her time to the performance of computer science instruction in such tenure area at the board of cooperative educational services.

(4) Any board of education that appoints a professional educator on or after September 1, 2022 to devote a substantial portion of his or her time to computer science instruction as a result of a school district taking over a program formerly operated by a board of cooperative educational services pursuant to section 3014-b of the Education Law, where the professional educator is serving in a computer science instruction tenure area pursuant to section 30-1.9(b) of this Subpart, shall credit the professional educator with tenure and seniority rights in a tenure area for which he or she holds the proper certification as described in section 30-1.9(b) of this Subpart, from the initial date of his or her assignment to the performance of computer science instruction in the board of cooperative educational services and shall continue to credit such professional educator with tenure and/or seniority rights in such tenure area while he or she is assigned to devote a substantial portion of his or her time to the performance of computer science instruction provided that he or she holds the proper certification for such tenure area.

3. Paragraphs (14) through (16) of subdivision (a) of section 30-1.8 of the Rules of the Board of Regents shall be amended to read as follows:

(14) speech—remedial; [and]

(15) English as a second language[.]; and

(16) Computer science.

4. Subdivision (d) in section 30-1.9 of the Rules of the Board of Regents, is amended to read as follows:

(d) If a professional educator possesses certification appropriate to more than a single tenure area and the board of education or board of cooperative educational services proposes at the time of initial appointment to assign such individual in such a manner that he will devote a substantial portion of his time during each of the school years constituting the probationary period in more than one of the tenure areas established by this Subpart, the board shall in its resolution of appointment designate such tenure area and shall thereafter separately confer or deny tenure to such individual in the manner prescribed by statute in each designated tenure area, except that individuals accruing tenure and/or seniority rights in their previous tenure area for the performance of duties in instructional support services or computer science as provided for in [section] sections 30-1.2(c)(1)(i) and (d)(1)(i) of this Subpart as applicable, shall only accrue tenure and/or seniority rights in their previous tenure area and not in one of the instructional support services tenure areas or the computer science tenure area [prescribed] described in section 30-1.8(a) and (e) of this Subpart as applicable.

5. Subparagraph (v) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of section 52.21 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education shall be amended to read as follows:

(v) Programs leading to initial certificates valid for teaching a special subject (all grades).

(a) Content core. [In] Except as provided in paragraph (1) of this subdivision, in addition to meeting the general requirements for the content core prescribed in clause (2)(ii)(b) of this subdivision, the content core shall be a major or its equivalent in the subject area of the certificate that provides a knowledge base for assisting students in meeting the State learning standards for students, as applicable to one of the following subjects and prescribed in Part 100 of this Title: dance, family and consumer sciences, health education, music, physical education, technology education, theatre, or visual arts.

(1) For certificates in computer science (all grades), in addition to meeting the general requirements for the content core prescribed in clause (2)(ii)(b) of this subdivision and until such time as the Department adopts State learning standards for computer science in Part 100 of this Title, the content core shall be at least a total of 12 semester hours that provides a knowledge base for assisting students in understanding the following concepts:

(i) Algorithms and programming;

(ii) Computing systems;

(iii) Data and analysis;

(iv) Impacts of computing; and

(v) Networks and the internet.

6. Subparagraphs (xxvi) through (xlvii) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (e) of section 80-3.2 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education shall be renumbered subparagraphs (xxvii) through (xlviii) of section 80-3.2 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education and a new subdivision (xxvi) shall be added to read as follows:

(xxvi) Computer science, all grades.

7. Subdivision (b) of section 80-3.3 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education shall be amended to read as follows:

(b) Requirements for initial certificates in all titles in classroom teaching service, except in a specific career and technical subject within the field of agriculture, business and marketing, family and consumer sciences, health, a technical area or a trade (grades 7 through 12). The candidate shall meet the requirements in each of the following paragraphs:

(1) . . .

(2) Examination. The candidate shall meet the examination requirement by meeting the requirements in one of the following subparagraphs:

(i) . . .

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, for candidates applying for certification on or after May 1, 2014 or candidates who applied for certification on or before April 30, 2014 but did not meet all the requirements for an initial certificate on or before April 30, 2014, such candidates shall submit evidence of having achieved a satisfactory level of performance on the New York State Teacher Certification Examination teacher performance assessment, the educating all students test, and the content specialty test(s) in the area of the certificate, when available, except that a candidate seeking an initial certificate in the title of Speech and Language Disabilities (all grades) shall not be required to achieve a satisfactory level of performance on the content specialty test or the teacher performance assessment and a candidate seeking an initial certificate in the title of Educational Technology Specialist (all grades) shall not be required to achieve a satisfactory level of performance on the teacher performance assessment.

(b) . . .

(ii) . . .

8. A new subdivision (d) shall be added to section 80-3.3 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education to read as follows:

(1) The requirements of this paragraph are only applicable to candidates who possess a bachelor’s degree or higher, and at least three years of documented and satisfactory occupational work experience in computer science, or a related area, as determined by the department. The candidate shall meet the requirements in each of the following subparagraphs:

(i) Education. The candidate shall meet the education requirement through satisfactory completion of a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited higher education institution or an equivalently approved higher education institution as determined by the department.

(ii) Pedagogy coursework. The candidate shall complete 18 semester hours of coursework that includes study in each of the following subjects:

(a) human development and learning, including but not limited to the impact of culture, heritage, socioeconomic level and factors in the home, school and community that may affect a student's readiness to learn;

(b) teaching students with disabilities and special health-care needs to develop the skills necessary to provide specially designed instruction to students with disabilities to participate and progress in the general education curriculum, three semester hours;

(c) teaching literacy skills, three semester hours;

(d) curriculum, instruction, and assessment, including instructional technology; and

(e) foundations of education (historical, philosophical, sociological and/or legal).

(ii) Experience. The candidate shall have at least three years of documented and satisfactory occupational work experience in computer science, or a related area, as determined by the department;

(iii) Examination. The candidate shall pass the New York State Teacher Certification Examination Educating all Students test, the content specialty test when available, and the teacher performance assessment, when available in the computer science area.

9. A new section 80-3.14 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education shall be added to read as follows:

10. Paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of section 80-3.7 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education shall be amended to read as follows:

(1) A candidate seeking to fulfill the education requirement for an initial certificate through individual evaluation of education requirements shall meet the general requirements prescribed in paragraph (2) of this subdivision, and the additional requirements, if any, prescribed in paragraph (3) of this subdivision for the certificate title for which application is made. The following initial certificates have no additional requirements prescribed in paragraph (3) of this subdivision: dance (all grades), health education (all grades), music (all grades), physical education (all grades), theater (all grades), visual arts (all grades), educational technology specialist (all grades), agriculture (all grades), family and consumer sciences (all grades), business and marketing (all grades), [and] technology education (all grades) and computer science (all grades).

11. Subparagraph (iv) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of section 80-3.7 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education shall be amended to read as follows:

(iv) Content core. The candidate shall complete 30 semester hours of coursework in the subject area of the certificate title, which may include no more than six of the 30 semester hours in a cognate, meaning a related field as determined by the department; provided, however that a candidate seeking an initial certificate in computer science shall only be required to complete 12 semester hours of coursework in the subject area of the certificate title.

1. STATUTORY AUTHORITY:

Education Law 101 (not subdivided) charges the Department with the general management and supervision of all public schools and all of the educational work of the state.

Education Law 207 (not subdivided) grants general rule-making authority to the Regents to carry into effect State educational laws and policies.

Education Law 210(not subdivided) authorizes the Regents to register domestic and foreign institutions in terms of New York standards.

Education Law 305(1) authorizes the Commissioner to enforce laws relating to the State educational system and execute Regents educational policies. Section 305(2) provides the Commissioner with general supervision over schools and authority to advise and guide school district officers in their duties and the general management of their schools.

Education Law 3001 establishes the qualifications of teachers in the classroom.

Education Law 3004(1) authorizes the Commissioner to promulgate regulations governing the certification requirements for teachers employed in public schools.

Education Law 3009 prohibits school district money from being used to pay the salary of an unqualified teacher.

2. LEGISLATIVE OBJECTIVES:

The purpose of the proposed amendments to Part 30 of the Regents Rules, Section 52.21 and Part 80 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Educations are to create a new certification area and tenure area in the classroom teaching service for computer science. At this time, there is a growing movement at the state and national levels for students to learn about computer science in schools. The Department is recommending the development of a computer science certificate that spans all grades in response to the growing need and desire to prepare students to succeed in a world with constantly evolving computer technologies. This certificate would ensure that students are working with teachers who have the knowledge and skills to provide high-quality computer science instruction and would also establish minimum and consistent standards for teachers of computer science courses.

3. NEEDS AND BENEFITS:

Computer science courses in schools provide students with the opportunity to learn how computers work and how we can use computers to solve problems in our society. The foundational knowledge in these courses is critical to preparing each child for success in college, career, and citizenship for the 21st century.

There is a growing movement at the state and national levels for students to learn about computer science in schools. In New York City, the goal of the “Computer Science for All” initiative is that all public school students will engage in computer science education at the elementary, middle, and high school levels by 2025. The Association for Computing Machinery, Code.org, Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA), Cyber Innovation Center, and National Math and Science Initiative collaborated with states, school districts, technology companies, and other organizations in the development of a K-12 Computer Science Framework (2016) that describes the computer science concepts and practices in which students should engage through elementary, middle, and high school. In addition, almost all parents (93%) support the use of school resources to provide computer science education at their child’s school (Google & Gallup, 2016).

Learning computer science concepts and practices develops computational skills, logic, problem solving, and creativity. This set of skills is important for citizenship and for any career in today’s world. Jobs in computing are particularly high-paying and in high-demand. According to Code.org, there are currently 486,686 openings for computing jobs while only 42,969 computer science students graduated into the workforce last year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also projects that two of the top 15 fastest growing jobs from 2016-2026 will be computing jobs: software developers/applications (30.5% expected growth rate) and information security analysts (28.4% expected growth rate).

The College Board offers two Advanced Placement (AP) exams where high school students can demonstrate their understanding of computer science and earn college credit: AP Computer Science A and AP Computer Science Principles. The latter test was launched this year. Code.org found that the number of AP computer science test takers more than doubled from last year to 111,262 test takers in 2017. However, only 20% of the test takers were students of color and 27% of the test takers were female. These percentages highlight the need to provide each student with access to computer science education throughout their schooling, enabling them to learn important knowledge and skills to help close equity gaps in achievement and employment.

The Department is recommending the development of a computer science certificate that spans all grades in response to the growing need and desire to prepare students to succeed in a world with constantly evolving computer technologies. A computer science certificate in the classroom teaching service would ensure that students are working with teachers who have the knowledge and skills to provide high-quality computer science instruction and would establish minimum and consistent standards for teachers of computer science courses.

Proposed Amendment

At this time, the Department is proposing amendments to Parts 30, 52, and 80 to create a computer science certificate for all grades (P-12) and program registration requirements for computer science education programs. The computer science education programs would enable candidates to obtain an initial certificate in computer science. To allow colleges time to prepare for and develop computer science programs, the proposed amendments will allow certified educators who are currently teaching computer science courses to continue teaching these courses without holding a computer science certificate while holding a statement of continued eligibility.

The amendments also make changes to Part 30 which relates to tenure areas. Computer science will be considered a “special subject” across all grades. The proposed amendment provides flexibility and allows certain candidates who teach a substantial portion of their time in computer science courses to choose to either continue accruing tenure in their base certificate or in the special subject computer science area.

Transition and Implementation of the Computer Science Certificate:

Currently, teachers who hold a certificate in any area are teaching computer science courses. The proposed amendment outlines a process for “grandfathering” those teachers currently teaching computer science courses, as well as those who begin teaching computer science courses between now and September 1, 2022. This process will allow those teaching computer science courses in school districts and BOCES to continue doing so without holding a computer science certificate for 10 years from the date the statement of continued eligibility is issued. Having these teachers continue to teach computer science courses provides time for institutions of higher education to implement computer science teacher preparation programs and additional time for these individuals teaching such courses to obtain computer science certification. This process also helps to ensure flexibility during this time of transition for school districts and BOCES.

Creating a new certificate, and therefore a new tenure area, will impact those currently teaching and those entering the profession with a computer science certificate. In response, the proposed amendment adds computer science as a “special subject” tenure area. After September 1, 2022, an educator who was previously appointed tenure in a different tenure area may choose to continue to receive credit toward tenure and seniority rights in their previous tenure area while devoting a substantial portion of their time to teaching computer science courses, or they may choose to change their tenure area to receive credit and accrue seniority rights in the special subject tenure area of computer science. By giving educators a choice, they will be able to make an informed decision as to the accrual of their tenure and seniority rights based on their teaching assignments.

For educators assigned/appointed on or after September 1, 2022 who are devoting a substantial portion (40% or more) of their time teaching computer science, probationary appointments and appointments in tenure are made in accordance with normal tenure rules. Specifically, these teachers must be appointed tenure in the special subject tenure area (computer science).

Pathways to a Computer Science Certificate:

Overall, the proposed amendments create four pathways for an individual to pursue an initial certificate in computer science:

1. Approved program pathway: an individual pursuing a bachelor’s degree in an educator preparation program leading to an initial certificate in computer science or a master’s degree in an educator preparation program leading to an initial computer science certificate.

2. Individual evaluation pathway: an individual with a bachelor’s degree or higher and at least 12 semester hours of coursework in computer science may pursue this pathway upon meeting pedagogy and student teaching requirements.

3. Industry experience: individuals who already have a bachelor’s degree or higher and also have had three or more years of experience working in a position that requires the skills of a computer scientist may pursue this pathway and would need to complete specific pedagogical coursework.

4. Additional certificate pathway: individuals who already hold a teaching certificate may pursue an additional certificate in computer science by meeting specific computer science coursework.

Currently, there is no content specialty test (CST) for computer science. However, at such time one becomes available, the Department will require those pursuing an initial certificate in computer science to take and pass the exam.

4. COSTS:

a. Costs to State government: The amendments do not impose any costs on State government, including the State Education Department.

b. Costs to local government: The amendments do not impose any costs on local government.

c. Costs to private regulated parties: The amendment do not impose any costs on private regulated parties.

d. Costs to regulating agency for implementation and continued administration: See above.

5. LOCAL GOVERNMENT MANDATES:

The proposed amendment does not impose any additional program, service, duty or responsibility upon any local government.

6. PAPERWORK:

The proposed amendment does not impose any additional paperwork requirements.

7. DUPLICATION:

The proposed amendment does not duplicate existing State or Federal requirements.

8. ALTERNATIVES:

While alternatives to the creation of a computer science certificate were considered, the proposed amendments were heavily influenced by the results of a Request for Information survey the Department sent to the field (including higher education and P12).

9. FEDERAL STANDARDS:

There are no applicable Federal standards.

10. COMPLIANCE SCHEDULE:

It is anticipated that the proposed amendment will be adopted as a permanent rule by the Board of Regents at its March 2018 meeting. If adopted at the March 2018 meeting, the proposed amendment will become effective on March 28, 2018.

(a) Small businesses:

The purpose of the proposed amendments to Part 30 of the Regents Rules, Section 52.21 and Part 80 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Educations are to create a new certification area and tenure area in the classroom teaching service for computer science. At this time, there is a growing movement at the state and national levels for students to learn about computer science in schools. The Department is recommending the development of a computer science certificate that spans all grades in response to the growing need and desire to prepare students to succeed in a world with constantly evolving computer technologies. This certificate would ensure that students are working with teachers who have the knowledge and skills to provide high-quality computer science instruction and would also establish minimum and consistent standards for teachers of computer science courses.

The amendment does not impose any new recordkeeping or other compliance requirements, and will not have an adverse economic impact on small businesses. Because it is evident from the nature of the proposed amendment that it does not affect small businesses or local governments, no further steps were needed to ascertain that fact and one were taken. Accordingly, a regulatory flexibility analysis for small businesses is not required and one has not been prepared.

(b) Local governments:

1. EFFECT OF RULE:

The purpose of the proposed amendments to Part 30 of the Regents Rules, Section 52.21 and Part 80 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Educations are to create a new certification area and tenure area in the classroom teaching service for computer science. Beginning on September 1, 2022, all teachers in grades K-12 who teach computer science courses will be required to hold a certificate in the classroom teaching service in the area of computer science. There will be a transition period (outlined under Compliance Requirements) during which those currently teaching computer science will be “grandfathered” in to the new requirement for a period of time.

Institutions of higher education wishing to offer education preparation programs in the area of computer science must register these programs with the Department.

2. COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Currently, teachers who hold a certificate in any area are teaching computer science courses. The proposed amendment outlines a process for “grandfathering” those teachers currently teaching computer science courses, as well as those who begin teaching computer science courses between now and September 1, 2022. This process will allow those teaching computer science courses in school districts and BOCES to continue doing so without holding a computer science certificate for 10 years from the date the statement of continued eligibility is issued. Having these teachers continue to teach computer science courses provides time for institutions of higher education to implement computer science teacher preparation programs and additional time for these individuals teaching such courses to obtain computer science certification. This process also helps to ensure flexibility during this time of transition for school districts and BOCES.

Creating a new certificate, and therefore a new tenure area, will impact those currently teaching and those entering the profession with a computer science certificate. In response, the proposed amendment adds computer science as a “special subject” tenure area. After September 1, 2022, an educator who was previously appointed tenure in a different tenure area may choose to continue to receive credit toward tenure and seniority rights in their previous tenure area while devoting a substantial portion of their time to teaching computer science courses, or they may choose to change their tenure area to receive credit and accrue seniority rights in the special subject tenure area of computer science. By giving educators a choice, they will be able to make an informed decision as to the accrual of their tenure and seniority rights based on their teaching assignments.

3. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES:

No professional services are needed to comply with the proposed amendment.

4. COMPLIANCE COSTS:

The proposed amendment does not impose any additional compliance costs on school districts and BOCES.

5. ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL FEASIBILITY:

The proposed amendment does not impose any additional technological requirements on school districts and BOCES.

6. MINIMIZING ADVERSE IMPACT:

The Department believes that uniform certification and tenure standards must be established for all teachers employed in school districts and BOCES across the State. Therefore, no alternatives were considered. Moreover, the proposed amendment does not directly impose any additional compliance requirements or costs on school districts.

7. LOCAL GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION:

Comments on the proposed rule were solicited from school districts through the offices of the district superintendents of each supervisory district in the State, from the chief school officers of the five big city school districts and from charter schools.

1. TYPES AND ESTIMATED NUMBER OF RURAL AREAS:

This proposed amendment applies to all individuals in New York State pursuing a computer science certificate in the classroom teaching service, as well as the school districts and BOCES offering courses in computer science and any institutions of higher education that seek to register computer science programs, including those located in the 44 rural counties with fewer than 200,000 inhabitants and the 71 towns and urban counties with a population density of 150 square miles or less.

2. REPORTING, RECORDKEEPING, AND OTHER COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS; AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES:

The purpose of the proposed amendments to Part 30 of the Regents Rules, Section 52.21 and Part 80 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Educations are to create a new certification area and tenure area in the classroom teaching service for computer science. At this time, there is a growing movement at the state and national levels for students to learn about computer science in schools. The Department is recommending the development of a computer science certificate that spans all grades in response to the growing need and desire to prepare students to succeed in a world with constantly evolving computer technologies. This certificate would ensure that students are working with teachers who have the knowledge and skills to provide high-quality computer science instruction and would also establish minimum and consistent standards for teachers of computer science courses.

Proposed Amendment

At this time, the Department is proposing amendments to Parts 30, 52, and 80 to create a computer science certificate for all grades (P-12) and program registration requirements for computer science education programs. The computer science education programs would enable candidates to obtain an initial certificate in computer science. To allow colleges time to prepare for and develop computer science programs, the proposed amendments will allow certified educators who are currently teaching computer science courses to continue teaching these courses without holding a computer science certificate while holding a statement of continued eligibility.

The amendments also make changes to Part 30 which relates to tenure areas. Computer science will be considered a “special subject” across all grades. The proposed amendment provides flexibility and allows certain candidates who teach a substantial portion of their time in computer science courses to choose to either continue accruing tenure in their base certificate or in the special subject computer science area.

Transition and Implementation of the Computer Science Certificate:

Currently, teachers who hold a certificate in any area are teaching computer science courses. The proposed amendment outlines a process for “grandfathering” those teachers currently teaching computer science courses, as well as those who begin teaching computer science courses between now and September 1, 2022. This process will allow those teaching computer science courses in school districts and BOCES to continue doing so without holding a computer science certificate for 10 years from the date the statement of continued eligibility is issued. Having these teachers continue to teach computer science courses provides time for institutions of higher education to implement computer science teacher preparation programs and additional time for these individuals teaching such courses to obtain computer science certification. This process also helps to ensure flexibility during this time of transition for school districts and BOCES.

Creating a new certificate, and therefore a new tenure area, will impact those currently teaching and those entering the profession with a computer science certificate. In response, the proposed amendment adds computer science as a “special subject” tenure area. After September 1, 2022, an educator who was previously appointed tenure in a different tenure area may choose to continue to receive credit toward tenure and seniority rights in their previous tenure area while devoting a substantial portion of their time to teaching computer science courses, or they may choose to change their tenure area to receive credit and accrue seniority rights in the special subject tenure area of computer science. By giving educators a choice, they will be able to make an informed decision as to the accrual of their tenure and seniority rights based on their teaching assignments.

For educators assigned/appointed on or after September 1, 2022 who are devoting a substantial portion (40% or more) of their time teaching computer science, probationary appointments and appointments in tenure are made in accordance with normal tenure rules. Specifically, these teachers must be appointed tenure in the special subject tenure area (computer science).

3. COSTS:

The proposed amendment does not impose any costs on teacher certification candidates and/or the New York State school districts/BOCES who wish to hire them.

4. MINIMIZING ADVERSE IMPACT:

The proposed amendment was developed after significant feedback from the P-12 and Higher Education sectors, which included individuals and higher education institutions located in rural areas. The Department believes that uniform standards for certification and tenure in computer science and program registration standards in computer science must be established across the State. Therefore, no alternatives were considered for those located in rural areas of the State.

5. RURAL AREA PARTICIPATION:

Copies of the proposed amendments have been provided to Rural Advisory Committee for review and comment.

The purpose of the proposed amendments to Part 30 of the Regents Rules, Section 52.21 and Part 80 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Educations are to create a new certification area and tenure area in the classroom teaching service for computer science. At this time, there is a growing movement at the state and national levels for students to learn about computer science in schools. The Department is recommending the development of a computer science certificate that spans all grades in response to the growing need and desire to prepare students to succeed in a world with constantly evolving computer technologies. This certificate would ensure that students are working with teachers who have the knowledge and skills to provide high-quality computer science instruction and would also establish minimum and consistent standards for teachers of computer science courses.

The proposed amendment includes a provision allowing for those currently teaching computer science courses to be “grandfathered” into the new certification requirement. Upon issuance of a statement of continued eligibility, those teachers will be able to continue teaching computer science courses for 10 years from the date of such statement without holding a computer science certificate. This provision is intended to ease the transition for candidates, school districts, and BOCES in terms of job impact and preventing any teacher shortage.

Because it is evident from the nature of the proposed amendments that they will have no impact on the number of jobs or employment opportunities in New York State, no further steps were needed to ascertain that fact and none were taken.